Astronaut Rick Mastracchio's flown Omega Speedmaster Professional wristwatch (serial no. 77795056) carried on the International Space Station during Expedition 38/39. This watch was provided by the Russian Space Agency to Astronaut Mastracchio prior to the Soyuz launch. It was carried to the ISS and remained there during the entire 188-day stay. The elastic EVA band was carried up with the watch; the standard metal band was not flown, but is included. Also included are the original red Omega case, cardboard box with bilingual English/Cyrillic name label (signed on the top in black felt tip, "Flown on Exp 38/39, Rick Mastracchio"), test results slips, and warranty card. In fine condition.
Commonly known as the 'Moon Watch,' the Omega Speedmaster Pro underwent exhaustive testing by NASA during the 1960s—assorted wristwatches were exposed to environmental conditions ranging from 0 to 200 °F, tested under 95% humidity for ten day periods, endured bursts of high acceleration and shock forces, and experienced severe air pressure and vibration trials. After three years of extreme testing, the evaluation concluded in March 1965 with the selection of the Speedmaster, which survived the tests while staying accurate within five seconds per day. The included pressure testing documentation from 2013 makes this example of the 'Moon Watch' particularly interesting—decades after its introduction, the Speedmaster Pro is still built to withstand the rigors of spaceflight.
Most often associated with the Apollo program, the Omega Speedmaster has become one of the most iconic timepieces ever created. This example casts the famous 'Moon Watch' in a new light—carried to the ISS by an American astronaut aboard a Russian spacecraft, nearly fifty years after the first Speedmaster went to space. Although the 'Space Race' was born out of competition between Russia and America, the International Space Station represents an era of cooperation between former enemies. Swiss-made, American-proved, and Russian-launched, this watch represents a pinnacle in space collecting. Accompanied by a letter of provenance from Astronaut Rick Mastracchio. From the collection of astronaut Rick Mastracchio, who flew on STS-106, STS-118, STS-131, and Soyuz TMA-11M (Expedition 38/39).
